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[Federal Register: May 11, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 90)]
[Notices]               
[Page 26344]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11my10-156]                         

[[Page 26344]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 
Temporary Exclusion of the Assessment of Overflight Fees for 
Humanitarian Flights Related to the January 12, 2010, Earthquake in 
Haiti

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of determination by the FAA to exclude the assessment of 
Overflight Fees for humanitarian flights in response to the earthquake 
in Haiti.

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SUMMARY: On January 12, 2010, the nation of Haiti was hit by a 
devastating earthquake near the heaviest populated part of the country, 
its capital, Port-au-Prince. Within hours, there was a significant 
increase in the volume of air traffic in the area as the world 
responded with many types of emergency relief and assistance. Since the 
FAA is the International Civil Aviation Organization-designated 
provider of air navigation services in much of the Caribbean just north 
of Haiti and north and east of the Dominican Republic, many of these 
humanitarian flights go through U.S.-controlled airspace and incur 
charges by the FAA (known as ``Overflight Fees'') for the air 
navigation services provided. This Notice advises all concerned of the 
determination by the FAA to exclude temporarily from its Overflight Fee 
bills any charges for humanitarian flights responding to the earthquake 
in Haiti.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA bills monthly for air navigation and 
related services provided to certain aircraft as set out in 49 CFR part 
187. The charge for these services, called Overflight Fees, is 
typically billed on or about the 10th of each month. The FAA has 
excluded from billing all flights in and out of Haiti during January 
(after the date of the earthquake), February and March on the 
presumption that the vast majority of such Haitian flights in the 
immediate aftermath of the earthquake are humanitarian in nature. 
Beginning with the invoices for the month of April, which are expected 
to be issued during the week of May 10-14, 2010, the FAA will bill 
flights to and from Haiti in the usual (pre-earthquake) manner. 
Operators of humanitarian flights related to the earthquake may request 
reconsideration of charges by the process described below.
    The FAA is also aware that there were numerous humanitarian flights 
flown in response to the earthquake in and out of the Dominican 
Republic and possibly other points in the Caribbean. Since the FAA 
cannot determine by the track of such flights whether they were in fact 
humanitarian flights for Haiti, all such flights have been billed for 
Overflight Fees that are normally applicable. Reconsideration of such 
fees for Haitian humanitarian flights may be requested as described 
below.
    Any entity that has been billed an Overflight Fee for a flight that 
was for humanitarian relief related to the earthquake in Haiti may 
request a reconsideration of the applicable fee by submitting a written 
statement to the FAA identifying the flight in question, providing an 
explanation of the purpose of the flight and a certification that the 
sole purpose of the flight was to provide aid or relief associated with 
the earthquake. This documentation should be provided either by mail to 
Federal Aviation Administration, Attn: Michelle Leissner, General 
Accounting Division (AMZ-350), P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 
USA or by e-mail to 9-AMC-AMZ-OVERFLIGHT-FEES@faa.gov.
    The FAA intends to continue this process for reconsideration of 
Overflight Fees billed to humanitarian flights related to the Haiti 
earthquake for the foreseeable future, but may cease such 
reconsideration at any time. If and when such a decision is made, the 
FAA will provide notification with its monthly bills.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Rickard, Manager, Financial 
Analysis (AFC-300), FAA Office of Financial Controls, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by e-mail at 
david.rickard@faa.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 5, 2010.
Ramesh K. Punwani,
Assistant Administrator for Financial Services/CFO, Federal Aviation 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-11152 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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